Cytisus plant named ‘SMNCSAB’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cytisus  plant named ‘SMNCSAB’, characterized by its relatively compact and upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; full and dense plants; freely flowering habit; large bright red and yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Cytisus scoparius.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMNCSAB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cytisus plant, botanically known as Cytisus scoparius, commonly referred to as Scotch Broom and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SMNCSAB’.

The new Cytisus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and uniform Cytisus plants with attractive flower form and color.

The new Cytisus plant originated from an open-pollination in 2009 in Grand Haven, Mich. of an unnamed selection of Cytisus scoparius, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Cytisus scoparius as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Cytisus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. during the spring of 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cytisus plant by softwood stem cuttings in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since the spring of 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Cytisus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Cytisus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNCSAB’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNCSAB’ as a new and distinct Cytisus plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; full and dense plants.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large bright red and yellow-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Cytisus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Cytisus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cytisus are more compact than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Cytisus have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Cytisus and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Cytisus can be compared to plants of Cytisus scoparius ‘Burkwoodii’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Cytisus differ from plants of ‘Burkwoodii’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cytisus are more upright than and not as         outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Burkwoodii’.     -   2. Plants of the new Cytisus are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Burkwoodii’.     -   3. Plants of the new Cytisus and ‘Burkwoodii’ differ in flower         color as flowers of plants of ‘Burkwoodii’ are dark red in         color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cytisus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Cytisus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SMNCSAB’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SMNCSAB’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in three-gallon containers during the spring and summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Cytisus production. Plants were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cytisus scoparius ‘SMNCSAB’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Cytisus             scoparius, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Cytisus             scoparius, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             months at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, somewhat             fibrous and fleshy; typically white in color, actual color             of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and physiological             age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and habit.—Perennial deciduous shrub; relatively             compact and upright plant habit; freely branching habit with             numerous lateral branches developing per plant; full and             dense plant habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 67 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 43 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 45° from vertical.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 137A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; leaves simple or compound with three             leaflets per leaf.         -   Simple leaf length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Simple leaf width.—About 5 mm.         -   Compound leaf length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Compound leaf width.—About 1 cm.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet shape.—Obovate.         -   Simple leaf apex.—Obtuse.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Simple leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet margin.—Entire.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet texture, upper and lower             surfaces.—Pubescent, velvety.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 137B; venation, close to 137B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single axillary papilionaceous             flowers; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely flowering             habit with 100's flowers developing per plant during the             flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring in Michigan.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Flowers last about two to             three weeks; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 59A.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 1.2 cm by 1.6 cm. Depth (height):             About 2 cm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Single whorl of five             petals; one larger standard petal, two wing petals and two             fused keel petals. Length, standard petal: About 1.7 cm.             Length, wing and keel petals: About 1.2 cm. Width, standard             petal: About 1.7 cm. Width, wing and keel petals: About             8 mm. Shape, all petals: Oblong. Apex, all petals: Obtuse.             Margin, all petals: Entire. Texture, all petals, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; silky. Color, when opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Standard and wing petals:             Close to 53A; towards the apex, close to 15A. Keel petals:             Proximally, close to 45A; distally, close to 7A. Color, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Standard and wing             petals: Close to N34A; towards the apex, close to 15A. Keel             petals: Close to 8A.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Two, opposite. Sepal             length: About 3 mm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape:             Triangular. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Fused. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Sepal color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 184B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect: Erect to about 45° from             lateral branch axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About ten. Filament             length: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Filament color: Close to N155B.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             color: Close to 17A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen-color:             Close to 17A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 2.3 cm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color:             Close to 157A. Style length: About 2.3 mm. Style color:             Close to 157A. Ovary color: Close to 191C. Seeds and fruits:             Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants             of the new Cytisus to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Cytisus have been observed     have good garden performance as exhibited by its tolerance to rain     and wind. Plants of the new Cytisus have been observed to tolerate     temperatures ranging from about −32° C. to about 36° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Cytisus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cytisus     plants to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cytisus plant named ‘SMNCSAB’ as illustrated and described. 